Ink distribution for high-speed rotary printing presses



March 16, 1954 MEYER ET L 2,672,093

INK DISTRIBUTION FOR HIGH-SPEED ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed Oct. 19, 1950 5 Shegts-Sheet l X E a NVENTOR$ fi m 7 March 1954 INK DISTRIBUTI March 16, 1954 I J. E. MEYER ET AL 2,67 0 3 INK DISTRIBUTION FOR HIGH-SPEED ROTARY PRINTING PRIissEs Filed Oct. 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INK DISTRIBUTION FOR HIGH-SPEED ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed Oct. 19, 1950 March 16, 1954 J. E. MEYER ET AL 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 16, 1954 J. E. MEYER ET AL 2,672,093

- INK DISTRIBUTION FOR HIGH-SPEED ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Filed 001;. 19, 1950 I V 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS I W IW Patented Mar. 16, 1954 INK DISTRIBUTION FOR HIGH-SPEED ROTARY PRINTING PRESSES Joseph E. Meyer and Hans J. Luehrs, Westerly,

R. I., assignors to C. B. Ccttrell & Sons Company, Westerly, R. I., a corporation of Delaware Application October 19, 1950, Serial No. 191,012

9 Claims.

This invention is directed to ink distributions for high speed rotary printing presses, which distributions are Well adapted for feeding heat dry inks of various viscosities, tack and pigment contents to the plate cylinders of multi-color high speed rotary printing presses.

One object of this invention is to provide novel and efiicient means for applying to the plate cylinders inks of the required characteristics for multi-color printing in the proper quantities and to assure emcient trapping as successive colors are applied.

Another object is to provide means for controlling the several ductor mechanisms to prevent ghosting and to supply a uniform film of ink to the Web, void of saturated and/or starved ink areas caused by conventional ductor mechanisms.

Another object is to provide means for controlling the ink applied to the plate cylinders by the form rolls of the ink distribution, whereby a gradual inking of the plates is assured as they pass successive form rolls. 1

Another object is to provide an ink distribution composed of a low speed fountain roll, a group of intermediate speed distribution rolls, two groups of high speed distribution rolls, a timed ductor means for transferring a quantity-controlled uniform supply of ink from the fountain roll to the group of intermediate speed rolls, a timed ductor means for transferring a quantitycontrolled supply of ink from the group of intermediate speed rolls to one group of high speed rolls to be applied to a plate cylinder, and another timed ductor means for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the group of intermediate speed rolls to the second group of high speed rolls to be applied to the said plate cylinder; said second group of high speed rolls, when desired, being used to transfer excess ink from the plate cylinder to the group of intermediate speed rolls.

A practical embodiment of this invention is represented in connection with a four color high speed rotary printing press.

Fig. 1 represents a detail horizontal section of the printing press illustrating the ink distribution for one of the plate cylinders.

Fig. 2 represents, in diagram, a detail vertical section of the press.

Fig. 3 represents a detail vertical section of the drive showing the impression cylinder and its four plate cylinders, the drive therefor and a portion of the drive for one of the ink distributions.

Fig. 4 represents a detail section taken in the plane of the line IV-IV of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 represents a detail section taken inthe plane of the line VV of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 represents a detail section through the reduction gear, taken in the plane of the line VI-VI of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 represents a detail section taken in the plane of the line VII-VII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing a cam for oscillating the ductor roll which works between the intermediate speed group and the upper high speed group of rolls.

Fig. 8 represents a detail section taken in the plane of the line VIII--VIII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the cam for oscillating the ductor roll which works between the intermediate speed group and the lower high speed group of rolls.

Fig. 9 represents a detail side view of the cam for oscillating the ductor roll which works between the fountain roll and the group of intermediate speed rolls.

Fig. 10 represents a detail side view showing the housings for the means for actuating the vibrator rolls of the three groups of intermediate and high speed rolls and also showing the cam for controlling the timed oscillations of the ductor roll for the group of intermediate speed rolls.

Fig. 11 represents a detail section showing a means for actuating a vibrator roll.

In the embodiment shown herein, the four plate cylinders are denoted by l, 2, 3, 4 and their common impression cylinder by 5, the plate cylinders being adapted to print the colors in the following order: yellow, red, blue and black, it being well known that the yellow color is the tackiest, the red and blue colors are less tacky and the black color is the least tacky.

The ink distributions for the several plate cylinders are alike and, therefore, a specific description of one only of the ink distributions will follow: i. e., the distribution for the plate cylinder 4.

The ink fountain is denoted by 6 and its low speed fountain roll by 7.

The group of intermediate speed distribution rolls is herein shown as comprising the vibrator roll 8, the composition roll 9 and the vibrator roll iii.

The first group of high speed distribution rolls is herein shown as comprising the vibrator roll ii, the composition roll 52, the vibrator roll l3 and its pair of form rolls Hi, l5, which contact the plate cylinder l.

The second group of high speed distribution rolls is shown as comprising the vibrator roll l5,

the composition roll ll, the vibrator roll 58 and its pair of form rolls I9, 20, which also contact the plate cylinder 4.

A timed ductor roll 2i is provided for transferring a quantity controlled uniform supply of ink from the fountain roll I to the first vibrator roll 3 of the group of intermediate speed rolls.

A second timed ductor roll 22 is provided for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the second vibrator roll in of the group of intermediate speed rolls to the first vibrator roll ll of the first group of high speed rolls.

A third timed ductor roll 23 is provided for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the said first vibrator roll 8 of the group of intermediate speed rolls to the first vibrator roll l6 of the second group of high speed rolls or vice versa as the conditions require.

It will be understood that the ductor rolls 22 and 23, for transferring the ink from the group of intermediate speed rolls to the first and second groups of high speed rolls, are adjusted toact in timed relationship to the ductor roll 2|, which transfers the ink from the fountain roll 1 to the group. of intermediate speed rolls.

The means which I have shown for driving the several elements of the printing press and its ink distributions, are as follows:

The impression cylinder 5, and its coacting plate cylinders l, 2, 3, 4 are shown as being driven at the desired high surface speed from the main drive shaft 24 through the beveled gears 25, 2t, shaft 21, pinion 28, impression cylinder gear 29 and plate cylinder gears 38, 3 i, 32, 33.

The ink distribution is shown as being driven from the main drive shaft 24 through the beveled gears 34, 35, shaft 3%, double sprocket 32 double sprocket chain 38, double sprocket 3d and its disengageable clutch connection 40 with the shaft i.

This shaft 4| is provided with a gear 42 which drivesv the two vibrator rolls 8 and iilof the group of intermediate speed rolls at approximately one half the surface speed of the impression and plate cylinders, through the train of gears 43, M, 45, 4E, 41, 48; The gear ll in coaction with the gears 49, 50, 51, 52 drives the vibrator rolls H, 53 of the first group of high speed rolls at the same surface speed as the impression and plate cylinders. The vibrator rolls I'E, l8 of the second group of high speed rolls are driven through the gears 49, 53, 54, 55 at the same. surface speed as the impression and plate cylinders. The gear 49, ro-

tatably mounted on a cross shaft 56, provides a reduction drive between said gear 49 and shaft 56. This reduction drive is herein shown as a planetary gearing consisting of a sun gear 5': fast to gear 49, planet gears 58, planet gear retainer 59 fast on shaft 55 and the fixed internal gear Ed.

The ink fountain roll 1 is shown as driven at alow continuous speed from the shaft 55, through thetrain of gears El, 62, 63,54, 65, 66 and 51, said low speed being sufficient (with the maximum or minimum dwell of the ductor roll 2! on the fountain roll) to supply the maximum or minimum amount of ink that may be required. Additional ink supply adjustment is provided for by the usual doctor blade 68 and its adjusting screws 69.

The ductor roll 2! isactuated by means of a crank!!! fast on the shaft 56, the connecting rod H, and lever arm 12 adjustably connected by the device 13 with the arm Hi fast on the cam shaft 15. The cams l6 fixed on the ends of the cam shaft engage arms 11 adjustably connected by the'devices 18 to armsle fast on stub shafts 80,

which carry the socket arms in in which the ductor roll H is rotatably mounted. The desired durations of the dwells of the ductor roll 2! are thus adjusted accurately by the devices 13, between their maximum and minimum limits.

The earns 82 are secured in their desired timed relation, by set screws 32*, to the ends of the shaft 5% for actuating the ductor roll 22 for the first group of high speed rolls, which cams 82 engage arms 85, adjustably connected by the devices 84, to arms 83 fast on the stub shafts 86, which carry the socket arms 81, in which the ductor roll 2?. is rotatably mounted.

The cams 88 are secured in their desired timed relation, by set screws 88*, to each end of the shaft 56 adjacent the cams 82 for actuating the ductor roll 23 for the second group of high speed rolls, which cams 88 engage arms 89, adjustably connected by the device 90 to other arms 9! fast on the stub shafts 92 which carry socket arms 93, in which the ductor roll 23 is rotatably mounted.

The dwells of these ductor rolls 22, 23 may be timed with relation to the timing of the ductor roll 2! by replacing the cams 82 and 88.

The drives contained in the housings 94 for axially reciprocating the vibrator rolls may be of any well known or approved construction. One of the drives for the vibrator roll H for instance, is shown in Fig. 11 in which a worm 95' fast on the end of the vibrator shaft 96 meshes with a worm gear 9! fast on a shaft 98 which is rotatably mounted in a base 99 to slide axially therewith. A rook lever Hill is pivoted at It! in the housings and its free end is eccentrically mounted on the shaft 98. whereby the rotation of the shaft t8 will cause the base 93. and shaft 98 to reciprocate together.

It will be understood that the dwell between the minimum and maximum limits of the ductor roll 2| may be adjusted by the cam adjusting device 13. This may be augmented by adjusting the screws which actupon the fountain blade 88, to obtain the desired supply of ink to the ductor according to the tackiness of the ink and the area to be printed.

In operation: when a light ink, as black, is used, only a thin film can be carried to obtain adhesion to the rolls at high speeds. Therefore, all the rolls should be used to supply the proper amount of ink for obtaining clean solid printing. Under these conditions, the durations of the dwells of the ductor rolls 22 and 23 should be chosen to supply an equal amount of ink through the two groups of high speed rolls to the two pairs of form rolls, l5, l5 and I8, 29.

When medium-bodied inks, as blue and red are used, these inks being tackier than the light ink, a thicker film should be carried to obtain color strength, but to obtain clean printing a final wiping on the plates is also desirable. This can be accomplished by arranging the durations of the dwells of the ductor rolls 22, 23 so that the form rolls M, !5 of the first group of high speed rolls will supply most of the required ink, while the form rolls l9, 2!) of the second group of high speed rolls serve as wipers to condition the plates for perfect trapping combined with good color strength. These ink supply controlling devices. furthermore minimize plate design repeats on the printed matter, due to sequential revolutions of the last form roll 25, which manifest themselves if the form roll 29 carries excessive ink, as is the case with conventional distributions. With heavy bodied, tacky inks as yellow for instance, the problem of accumulation on the rolls presents itself. This problem can be avoided by prolong ing the dwell of the ductor roll 22 on vibrator roll Hi to the extent that practically all of the ink supplied by the ductor roll 2| from the fountain to the group of intermediate speed rolls, is taken from said group to be fed through the first group of high speed rolls to the plate cylinder by the form rolls l4, 15. This condition will starve the second group of high speed rolls. Consequently the surplus ink deposited on the plate cylinder by the form rolls [4,15 of the first group of high speed rolls will be taken off the plate cylinder by the form rolls +9, of the second group of high speed rolls to be returned to the starved group of intermediate speed rolls before a fresh supply is provided therefor by the next duct of the ductor roll 2i from the fountain roll to said group of intermediate speed rolls. It follows that, under these conditions, the accumulation of surplus ink is substantially minimized.

While a continuous speed fountain roll has been herein shown and described, we do not Wish to be necessarily limited to such a drive.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention; hence we do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiments herein shown and described.

What we claim is:

1. In a high speed rotary printing press, an impression cylinder, a plate cylinder and an ink distribution therefor comprising, a fountain roll, two groups of high speed rolls, a group of intermediate speedrolls, an independently timed ductor roll for supplying a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the fountain roll to the group of intermediate speed rolls, a second independently timed ductor roll for supplying most of the ink from the group of intermediate speed rolls to one of the groups of high speed rolls to be transferred to the plate cylinder, and a third independvently timed ductor roll for transferring surplus of intermediate speed rolls, an independently timed first ductor roll for transferring a quantitycontrolled supply of ink from the fountain roll to the group of intermediate speed rolls, an independently timed second ductor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the group of intermediate speed rolls to one group of high speed rolls, and an independently timed third ductor roll for transferring a quantitycontrolled supply of ink from the group of intermediate speed rolls to the other group of high speed rolls.

3. In a high speed rotary printing press, an impression cylinder, a plate cylinder and an ink distribution therefor comprising, a low speed fountain roll, two groups of high speed rolls, each group including one or more form rolls, a group of intermediate speed rolls, an independently timed first ductor roll for transferring a quantitycontrolled supply of ink from the fountain roll to the group of intermediate speed rolls, an independently timed second ductor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the group of intermediate speed rolls to one group of high speed rolls, and an independently timed third ductor roll for transferring a quantitycontrolled supply of ink from the group of intermediate speed rolls to the other group of high speed rolls, said other group of high speed rolls serving to return an excess supply of ink from the plate cylinder to the group of intermediate speed rolls through said third ductor roll.

4. In a high speed rotary printing press, an impression cylinder, a plate cylinder and an ink distribution therefor comprising, a low speed fountain roll, a first group of high speed rolls including one or more form rolls, a second group of high speed rolls including one or more form rolls, a group of intermediate speed rolls, an independently timed first ductor roll for transferring a quantitywontrolled supply of ink from the fountain roll to the group of intermediate speed rolls, an independently timed second ductor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the group of intermediate speed rolls to the first group of high speed rolls, and an independently timed third ductor roll for transferring a quantitycontrolled supply of ink from the group of intermediate speed roll-s to the second group of high speed rolls.

5. In a high speed rotary printing press, an impression cylinder, a plate cylinder and an ink distribution therefor comprising, a low speed fountain roll, a first group of high speed rolls including one or more form rolls, a second group of high speed rolls including one or more form rolls, a group of intermediate speed rolls, an independently timed first ductor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the fountain roll to the group of intermediate speed rolls, an independently timed second ductor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the group of intermediate speed rolls to the first group of high speed rolls, and an independently timed third ductor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the group of intermediate speed rolls to the second group of high speed rolls, said second group of high speed rolls serving to return an excess supply of ink from the plate cylinder to the group of intermediate speed rolls through said third ductor roll.

6. In a high speed rotary printing press, an impression cylinder, a plate cylinder and an ink distribution therefor comprising, a low speed fountain roll, two groups of high speed rolls, each group including vibrator and form rolls, a group of intermediate speed rolls including vibrator rolls, an independently timed first ductor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the fountain roll to a vibrator roll of the group of intermediate speed rolls, an independently timed second ductor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from another vibrator roll of the group of intermediate speed rolls to a vibrator roll of one group of high speed rolls, and an independently timed third ductor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from said first named vibrator roll of the group of intermediate speed rolls to a vibrator roll of the other group of high speed rolls.

7. In a high speed rotary printing press, an impression cylinder, a plate cylinder and an ink distribution therefor comprising, a low speed fountain roll, two groups of high speed rolls, each group including vibrator and form rolls, a group of intermediate speed rolls including vibrator rolls, an independently timed first ductor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the fountain roll to a vibrator roll of the group ofint'ermedi-ate speed rolls, anindependently tim'ed'secondiductor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply'of ink from another vibrator roll of the group of intermediate speed rolls to a vibrator roll of one group of high speed rolls, and an independently timed third ductor rollfor transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from said first named vibrator roll of the group of intermediate speed rolls to a vibrator roll of the other group of high speed rolls, said'other group of high speed rolls serving to return an excess supply of ink from the plate cylinder'to the group of intermediate speed rolls through said third ductor roll.

8. Ina high speed rotary printing press, an impression cylinder, a plate cylinder and an ink distribution therefor comprising, a low speed fountain roll, a first group of high speed rolls including vibrator and form rolls, asecond group of high speed rolls including vibrator and form rolls, a group of" intermediate speed rolls including first and second vibratorrolls, an independently timed first ductor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from th fountain roll to the first vibrator roll or the group of intermediate speed rolls, an independently timed second duotor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from 171186800116. vibrator roll of the group of intermediate speed rolls to a vibrator roll of the first group of high speed rolls, and an independ ently timed third duotor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the first vibrator roll of the group of intermediate speed rollsto a vibrator roll of the second group of high speed rolls.

9. In a high speed rotary printing press, an impression cylinder, a plate cylinder and an inl; distribution therefor comprising, a low speed fountain roll, a first group of high speed rolls including vibrator and form rolls, a second group of high speed rolls includingvibrator' and form rolls, a group of intermediate speed rolls including first and second vibrator rolls, an independently timed first ductor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the fountain roll to the first vibrator roll of the group of intermediate speed rolls, an independently timed second ductor roll for transferring a quantitycontrolled supply of ink from the second vibrator roll of the group of intermediate speed rolls to a vibrator roll of the first group of high speed rolls, and an independently timed third ductor roll for transferring a quantity-controlled supply of ink from the first vibrator roll of the group of intermediate speed rolls to a vibrator roll of the second group of high speed rolls, said second group of high speed rolls serving to return an excess supply of ink on the plate cylinder to the group of intermediate speed rolls through said third ductor roll.

JOSEPH MEYER. HANS J. LUEI-IRS.

References Sited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 667,731 North Feb. 12, 1901 1,317,224 Schmidt Sept. 30, 1919 1,383,945 Henderson July 5, 1921 1,716,198 Erueshaker June 4, 1929 2,083,542 June 15, 1937 2,141,607 Lainatsch Dec; 27, 1938 2,2e8,6 l5 Schlesinger July 8, 1941 2,354,981 Barber Aug. 1, 1944 2,466,603 Luehrs Apr. 5, 1949 FGREIGN FATENTS Number Country Date 574,658 France Apr. 3, 1924 

